Any great host knows that the best parties all have one key ingredient: good food. And Halloween is the perfect occasion for an inspired menu since fall is so ripe with crowd favorite flavors (think pumpkin desserts and apple-centric sweets).

No matter the theme of your Halloween party—whether you're going for a casual gathering of your adult friends and their little monsters or an all out creepy affair—these creative Halloween party food ideas will please everyone from rambunctious toddlers to picky tweens.

In order to make sure you cover all of your bases, start with savory appetizers, like pumpkin chili or seven-layer dip meant to look like a spider web, then move on to the main event—something like meatball sliders which can be made on a budget. Of course, no Halloween menu would be complete without sugary treats. This is where you can really let your creativity shine, with treats like Frankenstein milkshakes or super cute monster whoopie pies.

To help you plan your whole Pinterest-perfect menu without the stress, we've gathered some of the best recipes around. All you have to do is look forward to hosting a terrifyingly fun Halloween party. (Just don't forget a killer playlist and some easy DIY decor, too.)